"I've made sure to hold a meeting in each of Iowa's 99 counties every year that I've represented Iowa in the Senate because dialogue between members of Congress and citizens is fundamental to our democracy," Grassley said. "I look forward to talking with as many Iowans as possible about the issues they're concerned about. The ideas and input gathered at these meetings are very important to me as I do my job in Washington."
Town meetings focusing on Medicare are planned in Pocahontas, Spirit Lake, Cherokee, Leon, Mount Ayr, Clarinda, Council Bluffs, Atlantic, and Des Moines and are open to the public. Grassley said all area residents are invited and encouraged to bring their questions and comments about Medicare reform or any other issue they'd like to talk about. Grassley was one of five senators who announced a tri-partisan coalition proposal on Medicare last week. The coalition's proposal reflects prescription drug coverage, treatment options, advanced technology, and outpatient services that Medicare must address in the 21st Century.
"We have a chance to improve Medicare, to cast it in a new mold, and to make it reflect a generation of medical advancements. That's a big job, and it's one that should take into account the opinions of those who will live with the effects of congressional action for years to come," Grassley said.
Grassley will also be holding tax town meetings in Humboldt, Spencer, Corning, Red Oak, and Glenwood. He orchestrated the largest tax relief package in 20 years earlier this year. Additional listening posts and town meetings are scheduled in Osage, Sibley, Bedford, Sidney, and Audubon.
Information about Grassley's August 20-31 meetings follows. He will be available for 15 minutes after each of these scheduled events to respond to questions from local reporters.
Monday, August 20
1:00-2:00 p.m.
Farm Bureau Town Meeting
Mitchell County Farm Bureau Office
709 Chase Street
Osage
3:00-4:30 p.m.
Tour Fort Dodge Animal Health
2000 Rockford Road
Charles City
6:00-7:00 p.m.
Allison Lions Club
United Church of Christ
508 North Main Street
Allison
Thursday, August 23
8:30-9:30 a.m.
Tour Eaton Corporation
700 Luick's Lane
Belmond
10:45-11:45 a.m.
Tax Town Meeting
Humboldt County Fairgrounds
Pavilion
Humboldt
12:30-1:30 p.m.
Medicare Town Meeting
Pocahontas Community Hospital
606 NW 7th St.
Pocahontas
2:30-3:30 p.m.
Tour Institutional Equipment Incorporated
1201 Main Street
Emmetsburg
3:45-4:45 p.m.
Tour Medieval Glass
2421 7th Avenue South
Estherville
Friday, August 24
8:00-9:00 a.m.
Medicare Town Meeting
Dickinson County Memorial Hospital
Dining Room
Highway 71 South
Spirit Lake
10:00-11:00 a.m.
Farm Bureau Town Meeting
327 9th Street
Sibley
12:30-1:30 p.m.
Tax Town Meeting
Spencer Public Library
Round Room
21 East 3rd Street
Spencer
2:45-3:45 p.m.
Visit Storm Lake Middle School
1811 Highland Drive
Storm Lake
4:45-5:45 p.m.
Medicare Town Meeting
Sioux Valley Memorial Hospital
Education Room
300 Sioux Valley Drive
Cherokee
Saturday, August 25
Monsanto 40th Anniversary Open House
Muscatine
Monday, August 27
11:45 a.m.-1:15 p.m.
Speech to KPMG Economics 2001
Marriott Hotel
700 Grand Avenue
Des Moines
3:00-4:00 p.m.
Medicare Town Meeting
Decatur County Hospital
Cafeteria
1405 NW Church
Leon
5:00-6:00
Medicare Town Meeting
Ringgold County Hospital
Conference Board Room
211 Shellway Drive
Mount Ayr
Tuesday, August 28
8:45-9:45 a.m.
Tour Swine USA/Bell Farms
2543 Willow Avenue
Thayer
10:30-11:30 a.m.
Tax Town Meeting
Community Center
600 Benton Street
Corning
12:15-1:15 p.m.
Listening Post
Taylor County Courthouse
Basement
Bedford
2:45-3:45 p.m.
Tax Town Meeting
YMCA
Conference Room
101 East Cherry
Red Oak
4:45-5:45 p.m.
Medicare Town Meeting
Clarinda Municipal Hospital
823 South 17th Street
Clarinda
Wednesday, August 29
9:15-10:15 a.m.
Listening Post
Fremont County Courthouse
Sidney
11:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m.
Tax Town Meeting
Public Library
Courtesy Room
109 North Vine Street
Glenwood
1:00-2:00 p.m.
Medicare Town Meeting
Jennie Edmundson Memorial Hospital
Auditorium
933 East Pierce Street
Council Bluffs
3:15-4:15 p.m.
Tour Insul-8
1147 Industrial Park
Harlan
5:15-6:15 p.m.
Farm Bureau Town Meeting
Audubon County Farm Bureau Office
202 North Market Street
Audubon
Thursday, August 30
8:45-9:45 a.m.
Medicare Town Meeting
Cass County Memorial Hospital
1501 East 10th Street
Atlantic
11:45 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
Downtown Rotary
Hotel Fort Des Moines
Des Moines
1:45-2:45 p.m.
Medicare Town Meeting
Mercy Hospital
1111 6th Avenue
Des Moines
7:00-7:30 p.m.
"Ask Your Senator"
Cable TV Show
AT&T Media Services
Des Moines